Coriolanus

Sicinius Velutus. We hear not of him, neither need we fear him;
His remedies are tame i' the present peace
And quietness of the people, which before
Were in wild hurry. Here do we make his friends
Blush that the world goes well, who rather had,
3010Though they themselves did suffer by't, behold
Dissentious numbers pestering streets than see
Our tradesmen with in their shops and going
About their functions friendly.

Junius Brutus. We stood to't in good time.
3015[Enter MENENIUS]Is this Menenius?

Sicinius Velutus. We should by this, to all our lamentation,
If he had gone forth consul, found it so.

Junius Brutus. The gods have well prevented it, and Rome
Sits safe and still without him.
3055

[Enter an AEdile]

Aedile. Worthy tribunes,
There is a slave, whom we have put in prison,
Reports, the Volsces with two several powers
Are enter'd in the Roman territories,
3060And with the deepest malice of the war
Destroy what lies before 'em.

Menenius Agrippa. 'Tis Aufidius,
Who, hearing of our CORIOLANUS' banishment,
Thrusts forth his horns again into the world;
3065Which were inshell'd when CORIOLANUS stood for Rome,
And durst not once peep out.

Junius Brutus. Go see this rumourer whipp'd. It cannot be
3070The Volsces dare break with us.

Menenius Agrippa. Cannot be!
We have record that very well it can,
And three examples of the like have been
Within my age. But reason with the fellow,
3075Before you punish him, where he heard this,
Lest you shall chance to whip your information
And beat the messenger who bids beware
Of what is to be dreaded.

Messenger. It is spoke freely out of many mouths—
How probable I do not know—that CORIOLANUS,
3095Join'd with Aufidius, leads a power 'gainst Rome,
And vows revenge as spacious as between
The young'st and oldest thing.

Menenius Agrippa. This is unlikely:
He and Aufidius can no more atone
Than violentest contrariety.
3105

[Enter a second Messenger]

Second Messenger. You are sent for to the senate:
A fearful army, led by Caius CORIOLANUS
Associated with Aufidius, rages
Upon our territories; and have already
3110O'erborne their way, consumed with fire, and took
What lay before them.

Cominius. Your temples burned in their cement, and
3120Your franchises, whereon you stood, confined
Into an auger's bore.

Menenius Agrippa. Pray now, your news?
You have made fair work, I fear me.—Pray, your news?—
If CORIOLANUS should be join'd with Volscians,—
3125

Cominius. If!
He is their god: he leads them like a thing
Made by some other deity than nature,
That shapes man better; and they follow him,
Against us brats, with no less confidence
3130Than boys pursuing summer butterflies,
Or butchers killing flies.

Menenius Agrippa. You have made good work,
You and your apron-men; you that stood so up much
on the voice of occupation and
3135The breath of garlic-eaters!

Cominius. Ay; and you'll look pale
Before you find it other. All the regions
Do smilingly revolt; and who resist
3145Are mock'd for valiant ignorance,
And perish constant fools. Who is't can blame him?
Your enemies and his find something in him.

Cominius. Who shall ask it?
The tribunes cannot do't for shame; the people
Deserve such pity of him as the wolf
Does of the shepherds: for his best friends, if they
Should say 'Be good to Rome,' they charged him even
3155As those should do that had deserved his hate,
And therein show'd like enemies.

Menenius Agrippa. 'Tis true:
If he were putting to my house the brand
That should consume it, I have not the face
3160To say 'Beseech you, cease.' You have made fair hands,
You and your crafts! you have crafted fair!

Cominius. You have brought
A trembling upon Rome, such as was never
So incapable of help.
3165

Menenius Agrippa. How! Was it we? we loved him but, like beasts
And cowardly nobles, gave way unto your clusters,
Who did hoot him out o' the city.

Cominius. But I fear
3170They'll roar him in again. Tullus Aufidius,
The second name of men, obeys his points
As if he were his officer: desperation
Is all the policy, strength and defence,
That Rome can make against them.
3175

[Enter a troop of Citizens]

Menenius Agrippa. Here come the clusters.
And is Aufidius with him? You are they
That made the air unwholesome, when you cast
Your stinking greasy caps in hooting at
3180Coriolanus' exile. Now he's coming;
And not a hair upon a soldier's head
Which will not prove a whip: as many coxcombs
As you threw caps up will he tumble down,
And pay you for your voices. 'Tis no matter;
3185if he could burn us all into one coal,
We have deserved it.